Regional Immunization Advisor - Somali RHB

Organization Background: JSI is a US-based public health nonprofit organization committed to delivering high-quality technical and managerial assistance programs worldwide. With over 25 years of experience in Ethiopia, JSI has implemented over 60 projects, focusing on improving health outcomes, quality, and equity in access to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services. JSI has actively contributed to various areas, including primary health care, community health programs, digital health, health information systems (HIS), supply chain management, public health emergency responses, and social and behavior change.

Activity Overview

Over the past few years, the John Snow Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) has provided technical assistance to Ethiopia's Ministry of Health (MoH) to strengthen the national and sub-national immunization systems, with a focus on identifying and reaching zero-dose and under-immunized communities in hard-to-reach areas. As part of full portfolio planning (FPP), MoH-Ethiopia has initiated various strategies and activities to identify and reach zero dose and under immunized children with technical assistance to RHBs being one of the key strategies. MoH identified a need for ongoing technical assistance at national level to support new vaccine introduction, provision of vaccines administered in the second year of life and beyond and reduce number of zero dose and under immunized children through delivery of integrated services to improve efficiency, regularity and/or reliability of planned immunization activities and reduce gender based barriers to utilization of immunization services. Through funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, JSI will provide technical assistance on routine immunization to selected regional health bureaus (RHBs) to support the effort of the ministry in reducing the number of zero-dose children in Ethiopia. 

JSI is looking to hire a regional immunization advisor (RIA) to be based in the regional health bureau (RHB) of Somali regions to provide technical assistance to extend immunization service through reaching zero-dose, under-immunized children and missed communities

Overall responsibilities

The regional immunization advisor will provide technical assistance (TA) to the RHB in monitoring the performance of reaching zero-doses and new vaccine introductions and mapping and identifying woredas and kebeles with high numbers of zero-dose and under-immunized children. Specifically, he/she will support the RHB in monitoring performance of zero-doses, conducting rapid convenience survey (RCS) on RI and catch-up vaccination, microplanning, HPV and new vaccine introduction (NVI) supports. He/she will be seconded to the RHBs. The RIA will provide day-to-day and strategic support to the RHB’s EPI team for the responsibilities described below.

Specific responsibilities 

• Provide support to RHB, zonal health department, and woredas health offices to conduct RCS for routine immunization. Ensure RCS is conducted regularly in the region
• Support RHB in monitoring the performance of each woreda and zone towards the national target of reaching zero-dose. Provide regular update to the RHB on woredas and zones lagging from their target 
• Support planning (including microplanning) to identify and reach school and out of school girls for HPV vaccination
• Provide technical support during planning and rollout of new vaccines and vaccine switches (such as IPV2, Rota, measles 5 dose, HBD, etc) 
• Strengthen immunization during second year of life and integration
• Provide regional technical assistance to the RHB in planning and coordinating routine immunization, with a focus on identifying and mapping woredas and kebeles with high numbers of zero-dose children 
• Work with the RHB to identify their needs, develop a joint plan, and provide ongoing technical assistance based on those needs related with routine immunization.
• Support during Micro-planning to identify and map zero-dose children and missed communities focus on gender and equity barriers 
• Participate on capacity building activities related with immunization service (training, mentorship and advocacy meetings orientations and action planning in the region to support the national rollout of catch-up guidelines.
• Monitor VPDs outbreak and implement actions that to bring un/under immunized children to RI system
• Offer technical support on catch up vaccination planning and implementation
• Actively participate in key regional technical meetings, such as regional technical working group meetings, to stay informed and provide input on regional immunization efforts.
• Provide ongoing technical support to RHB and sub-regional level including leading and participating in supportive supervisions, review meetings, use of immunization data for timely decision making.
• Closely coordinate and plan with other JSI immunization TAs within the region to ensure the project activities are well aligned and harmonized with the regional priorities
• Coordinate regularly with Addis Ababa based JSI staff to facilitate project implementation and provide progress updates
• Regularly provide update and reports on performance 
• Contribute to donor or MoH-required project reports or other information requests
• Perform other assignments and responsibilities as assigned by RHB and/or JSI

• Master of public health (MPH) or other equivalent qualifications with first degree in health-related areas
• Minimum of eight years working experience in immunization and public health. Should have at least five years of experience on routine immunization
• Should have experience in conducting data analysis (at least two years)
• Experience in conducting RCS or in supporting new vaccine introduction is advantage 
• Demonstrated experience working within the region and familiarity with the region
• Proven ability to use adult learning techniques to facilitate trainings, supportive supervision and technical assistance 
• Demonstrated ability to be a team player, to lead teams, and to organize multiple activities simultaneously; ability to communicate and negotiate competing demands on time from managers and work effectively with distributed teams. 
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, and familiarity with DHIS2
• Fluency in English and Amharic; Fluency in the regional language is a strong asset 
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 40% of the time to regions, zones, and woredas

How To Apply

Interested applicants who met the minimum requirements should send and apply at WWW. Ethiojobs.net. please submit your application letter with your CV in English detailing your experience and skills that are relevant to the post.

Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.

JSI/WEI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

JSI/WEI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D